What If the Market Crashes Right Before You Retire?

In this episode of the Retire Early Podcast, financial advisors and retirement planners Sam Benson & Linwood Fraher of Martin Wealth Solutions discuss one of the biggest fears people have as retirement approaches: what happens if the market crashes right before you retire? Sam and Linwood explain how market downturns can affect retirement timing, income planning, and long-term portfolio sustainability. They walk through the concept of sequence of returns risk, why market declines early in retirement can have a disproportionate impact, and how thoughtful planning can help reduce the potential damage. This episode highlights strategies that can help retirees prepare for volatility — including diversification, income planning, and building flexibility into a retirement plan — so that market downturns don’t derail long-term goals. http://retirewithmartin.com/ ← Learn about working with us www.planwellretirehappy.com Episode Breakdown 00:00 Introduction to Today’s Episode 01:30 Why market crashes near retirement create anxiety 03:02 Understanding sequence of returns risk 04:42 Why timing matters more during retirement 06:14 How market declines impact withdrawals 07:54 The danger of selling investments during downturns 09:32 Diversification as a protection strategy 11:02 Creating income sources that reduce market pressure 12:48 The role of cash reserves and safe assets 14:26 Building flexibility into retirement plans 16:08 Adjusting spending during market volatility 17:46 Avoiding emotional decision-making 19:18 Stress-testing a retirement plan 20:54 Key takeaways and planning strategies Disclaimer Opinions expressed herein are solely those of Martin Wealth Solutions, unless otherwise specifically cited. Material presented is believed to be from reliable sources, but no representations are made by our firm as to another parties’ informational accuracy or completeness. Content provided herein is for informational purposes only and should not be used or construed as investment advice or a recommendation regarding the purchase or sale of any security. There is no guarantee that any statements, opinions or forecasts provided herein will prove to be correct. All information or ideas provided should be discussed in detail with an advisor, accountant or legal counsel prior to implementation. Past performance may not be indicative of future results. Indices are not available for direct investment. Any investor who attempts to mimic the performance of an index would incur fees and expenses which would reduce returns. Securities investing involves risk, including the potential for loss of principal. There is no assurance that any investment plan or strategy will be successful.